| 1999 Profile Of Overseas Travelers To The U.S. - Inbound Reported From "Survey Of International Air Travelers (IFS) |
|
Printing Note: Set your print mode to landscape and/or reduce your margin settings if this document is too wide for your printer. |
|
Residence of Travelers to the U.S. |
Arrivals |
Percent of Total Overseas Arrivals |
|
TOTAL OVERSEAS |
24,466,000 |
100% |
|
Western Europe |
10,847,000 |
44% |
United Kingdom |
4,252,000 |
17% |
Germany |
1,985,000 |
8% |
France |
1,059,000 |
4% |
Italy |
626,000 |
3% |
Netherlands |
527,000 |
2% |
Switzerland |
406,000 |
2% |
Spain |
363,000 |
1% |
Sweden |
314,000 |
1% |
Belgium |
249,000 |
1% |
Ireland |
246,000 |
1% |
Austria |
194,000 |
1% |
|
Eastern Europe |
396,000 |
2% |
|
Caribbean |
1,258,000 |
5% |
Bahamas |
282,000 |
1% |
Jamaica |
234,000 |
1% |
Dominican Republic |
201,000 |
1% |
|
South America |
2,733,000 |
11% |
Brazil |
665,000 |
3% |
Venezuela |
552,000 |
2% |
Argentina |
502,000 |
2% |
Colombia |
416,000 |
2% |
Chile |
181,000 |
1% |
Peru |
159,000 |
1% |
|
Central America |
731,000 |
3% |
Guatemala |
163,000 |
1% |
Costa Rica |
161,000 |
1% |
|
Asia |
6,935,000 |
29% |
Japan |
4,826,000 |
20% |
South Korea |
499,000 |
2% |
Taiwan |
453,000 |
2% |
Peoples Republic of China/Hong Kong |
384,000 |
2% |
India |
228,000 |
1% |
|
Oceania |
667,000 |
3% |
Australia |
483,000 |
2% |
New Zealand |
160,000 |
1% |
|
Middle East |
625,000 |
3% |
Israel |
283,000 |
1% |
|
Africa |
274,000 |
1% |
|
Overseas Traveler Characteristics |
All Overseas Visitors |
All Leisure Visitors |
All Business Visitors |
|
Total Number of Travelers |
24,466,000 |
15,414,000 |
7,017,000 |
|
Advance Trip Decision |
|||
Average Number of Days |
69.6 |
85.6 |
37.4 |
Median Number of Days |
30.0 |
60.0 |
20.0 |
|
Advance Airline Reservation |
|||
Average Number of Days |
44.0 |
56.2 |
20.5 |
Median Number of Days |
23.0 |
30.0 |
10.0 |
|
Means of Booking Air Trip |
|||
Travel Agent |
68% |
70% |
63% |
Airlines Directly |
12% |
12% |
10% |
Company Travel Department |
8% |
3% |
22% |
Tour Operator |
7% |
10% |
2% |
|
Information Sources* |
|||
Travel Agent |
60% |
61% |
58% |
Friends / Relatives |
17% |
21% |
7% |
Airlines |
16% |
15% |
17% |
Travel Guides / Timetables |
12% |
13% |
10% |
Tour Operator / Company |
11% |
16% |
3% |
Corporate Travel Department |
9% |
13% |
3% |
Newspapers / Magazines |
9% |
4% |
23% |
State / City Travel Office |
6% |
9% |
2% |
Personal Computer |
5% |
6% |
4% |
|
Use of Pre-Paid Package |
|||
Yes |
22% |
31% |
6% |
No (Independent) |
79% |
69% |
94% |
|
If Package Used, Type of Package* |
|||
Air / Lodging |
16% |
24% |
3% |
Guided Tour |
6% |
9% |
2% |
Air / Lodging / Tour |
6% |
8% |
3% |
Air / Rental Car |
4% |
6% |
1% |
Air / Lodging / Bus |
4% |
6% |
1% |
Air / Lodging / Rental Car |
4% |
6% |
1% |
Air / Lodging / Bus / Tour |
2% |
3% |
1% |
|
Use of Prepaid Lodging as Part of Package |
|||
Yes |
82% |
83% |
70% |
No |
18% |
17% |
30% |
Mean Number of Nights |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.3 |
Median Number of Nights |
5.0 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
|
Advance Package Booking |
|||
Mean Number of Days |
73.6 |
76.3 |
36.2 |
Median Number of Days |
40.0 |
42.0 |
20.0 |
|
If Pre-Booked Lodging, Pre-Booked Through* |
|||
Travel Agent |
33% |
40% |
26% |
Company Travel Dept. |
8% |
3% |
21% |
Tour Operator |
7% |
8% |
9% |
Hotel/Motel Directly |
6% |
9% |
1% |
Business Associate |
5% |
2% |
14% |
Friend/Relative |
4% |
5% |
3% |
|
Travel Companions* |
|||
Traveling Alone |
35% |
21% |
57% |
Family / Relatives |
26% |
36% |
8% |
Spouse |
26% |
35% |
11% |
Friends |
13% |
18% |
5% |
Business Associates |
9% |
5% |
23% |
Tour Group |
3% |
3% |
2% |
|
Travel Party Size (Persons) |
|||
Adults Only |
92% |
87% |
98% |
Adults and Children |
8% |
13% |
2% |
Average Party Size |
1.6 |
1.9 |
1.3 |
Median Party Size |
1.0 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
|
Main Purpose of Trip |
|||
Leisure / Recreation / Holiday |
48% |
77% |
5% |
Business / Professional |
24% |
7% |
85% |
Visit Friends / Relatives |
19% |
12% |
5% |
Convention / Conference |
6% |
3% |
4% |
Study / Teaching |
3% |
1% |
1% |
|
Purpose of Trip* |
|||
Leisure / Recreation / Holiday |
63% |
100% |
24% |
Visit Friends / Relatives |
34% |
29% |
21% |
Business |
29% |
11% |
100% |
Convention / Conference |
9% |
5% |
13% |
Study / Teaching |
5% |
3% |
4% |
|
Type of Accommodations* |
|||
Hotel or Motel |
82% |
85% |
89% |
Average Number of Nights |
7.9 |
8.1 |
7.5 |
Median Number of Nights |
5.0 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
Private Home |
31% |
29% |
22% |
Average Number of Nights |
17.9 |
15.9 |
19.6 |
Median Number of Nights |
9.0 |
10.0 |
7.0 |
Other |
4% |
4% |
3% |
Mean Number of Nights |
16.5 |
12.5 |
15.3 |
Median Number of Nights |
7.0 |
7.0 |
5.0 |
|
Nights Spent in the U.S. |
|||
Average Number of Nights |
15.2 |
14.3 |
13.0 |
Median Number of Nights |
8.0 |
9.0 |
6.0 |
|
First International U.S. Trip |
|||
First Time Visitors |
22% |
28% |
10% |
Repeat Visitors |
78% |
72% |
90% |
|
U.S. Trips in Last 12 Months |
|||
Mean Number of Trips |
2.0 |
1.6 |
3.1 |
Median Number of Trips |
1.0 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
|
U.S. Trips in Last 5 Years |
|||
Mean Number of Trips |
6.4 |
4.6 |
10.8 |
Median Number of Trips |
3.0 |
2.0 |
6.0 |
|
Number of States Visited* |
|||
One State |
66% |
66% |
61% |
Two States |
20% |
19% |
24% |
Three or More States |
14% |
15% |
16% |
Average Number of States |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
Median Number of States |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
|
Number of Destinations Visited |
|||
Average Number of Destinations |
2.1 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
Median Number of Destinations |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
|
Transportation Used in the U.S.* |
|||
Taxi |
40% |
40% |
47% |
Rented Auto |
34% |
37% |
37% |
Airline in the U.S. |
28% |
26% |
36% |
Company or Private Auto |
28% |
24% |
29% |
City Subway / Bus |
20% |
25% |
13% |
Bus between Cities |
10% |
13% |
5% |
Rail between Cities |
8% |
8% |
8% |
|
Port of Entry |
|||
New York |
14% |
13% |
17% |
Miami |
13% |
14% |
15% |
Los Angeles |
11% |
11% |
12% |
Honolulu |
8% |
13% |
2% |
Newark |
6% |
5% |
7% |
San Francisco |
5% |
5% |
7% |
Chicago |
5% |
3% |
9% |
Agana, Guam |
4% |
7% |
** |
Orlando & Orlando / Sanford |
3% |
4% |
1% |
Atlanta |
3% |
2% |
4% |
Washington Dulles |
3% |
2% |
3% |
Boston |
2% |
2% |
2% |
Detroit |
2% |
1% |
3% |
|
U.S. Destinations Visited* |
|||
New England |
7% |
6% |
9% |
Massachusetts |
5% |
5% |
7% |
Boston |
5% |
4% |
6% |
Middle Atlantic |
27% |
25% |
33% |
New York |
24% |
23% |
28% |
New York City |
23% |
23% |
26% |
New Jersey |
4% |
2% |
5% |
Pennsylvania |
2% |
2% |
3% |
East North Central |
9% |
5% |
16% |
Illinois |
5% |
4% |
9% |
Chicago |
5% |
4% |
9% |
Michigan |
2% |
1% |
3% |
Ohio |
2% |
1% |
3% |
West North Central |
2% |
1% |
4% |
South Atlantic |
32% |
33% |
32% |
Florida |
24% |
27% |
19% |
Miami |
12% |
12% |
12% |
Orlando |
12% |
16% |
5% |
Tampa / St. Petersburg |
2% |
3% |
2% |
Ft. Lauderdale |
2% |
2% |
2% |
Washington, DC (metro area) |
5% |
5% |
6% |
Georgia |
3% |
2% |
5% |
Atlanta |
2% |
1% |
4% |
East South Central |
2% |
1% |
3% |
West South Central |
6% |
4% |
9% |
Texas |
4% |
3% |
8% |
Houston |
2% |
1% |
3% |
Dallas / Ft. Worth |
2% |
1% |
3% |
Louisiana |
2% |
2% |
1% |
Mountain |
13% |
16% |
10% |
Nevada |
10% |
13% |
6% |
Las Vegas |
9% |
12% |
6% |
Arizona |
4% |
5% |
2% |
Colorado |
2% |
2% |
2% |
Utah |
2% |
2% |
1% |
Pacific |
27% |
27% |
31% |
California |
26% |
25% |
29% |
Los Angeles |
15% |
16% |
14% |
San Francisco |
11% |
12% |
11% |
San Diego |
3% |
4% |
3% |
Anaheim |
2% |
2% |
2% |
San Jose |
2% |
1% |
5% |
Washington |
2% |
2% |
3% |
Seattle |
2% |
2% |
2% |
Pacific Islands |
15% |
22% |
3% |
Hawaiian Islands |
11% |
16% |
3% |
Oahu / Honolulu |
9% |
13% |
2% |
Maui |
2% |
2% |
** |
Guam |
4% |
6% |
** |
Atlantic Islands |
** |
** |
** |
|
Leisure / Recreational Activities* |
|||
Shopping |
89% |
93% |
80% |
Dining in Restaurants |
82% |
83% |
85% |
Sightseeing in Cities |
43% |
52% |
29% |
Amusement / Theme Parks |
33% |
42% |
17% |
Visit Historical Places |
32% |
37% |
22% |
Visit Small Towns / Villages |
28% |
34% |
16% |
Water Sports / Sunbathing |
24% |
33% |
10% |
Touring the Countryside |
23% |
27% |
14% |
Visit National Parks |
20% |
25% |
10% |
Art Gallery / Museum |
20% |
22% |
16% |
Cultural / Heritage Sights |
18% |
22% |
10% |
Guided Tours |
17% |
23% |
7% |
Nightclub / Dancing |
13% |
14% |
13% |
Casinos / Gambling |
12% |
15% |
8% |
Concert / Play / Musical |
12% |
14% |
10% |
Golf / Tennis |
8% |
8% |
9% |
Cruises |
7% |
9% |
3% |
Attend Sports Events |
6% |
6% |
6% |
Ethnic Heritage Sights |
5% |
6% |
3% |
Visit American Indian Communities |
4% |
5% |
2% |
Camping / Hiking |
4% |
5% |
2% |
Environmental / Ecological Excursions |
3% |
4% |
2% |
Hunting / Fishing |
2% |
2% |
1% |
|
Main Factors Involved in Airline Choice |
|||
Airfare |
29% |
33% |
19% |
Convenient Schedule |
17% |
15% |
21% |
Mileage Bonus / Frequent Flyer Program |
11% |
10% |
13% |
Safety Reputation |
9% |
11% |
7% |
Non-Stop Flight |
9% |
9% |
9% |
Previous Good Experience |
6% |
6% |
8% |
Loyalty to Carrier |
4% |
4% |
5% |
Employer Policy |
4% |
2% |
9% |
In-Flight Service Reputation |
2% |
2% |
3% |
|
Type of Airline Ticket |
|||
Economy / Tourist / Coach |
74% |
79% |
58% |
Executive / Business |
15% |
8% |
32% |
Discount / Group Fare |
5% |
6% |
3% |
Frequent Flyer Award |
3% |
4% |
2% |
First Class |
2% |
2% |
4% |
Frequent Flyer Upgrade |
2% |
1% |
4% |
Non-Revenue Passenger |
1% |
1% |
1% |
Don't Know |
3% |
4% |
2% |
|
Seating Area |
|||
Economy / Tourist / Coach |
79% |
87% |
59% |
Executive / Business |
17% |
11% |
36% |
First Class |
3% |
2% |
6% |
|
Average Total Trip Expenditures |
|||
Per Travel Party |
$4,616 |
$4,725 |
$5,195 |
Per Visitor |
$2,859 |
$2,449 |
$3,989 |
|
Average Expenditures in the U.S. |
|||
Per Travel Party |
$2,443 |
$2,651 |
$2,511 |
Per Visitor |
$1,513 |
$1,374 |
$1,927 |
Per Visitor Per Day |
$99 |
$96 |
$149 |
|
Average Expenditures by Category (Per Visitor) |
|||
Lodging |
$420 (28%) |
$306 (22%) |
$738 (38%) |
Gifts / Souvenirs |
$333 (22%) |
$353 (26%) |
$299 (16%) |
Food / Beverages |
$281 (19%) |
$268 (20%) |
$330 (17%) |
Transportation |
$201 (13%) |
$174 (13%) |
$287 (15%) |
Entertainment |
$147 (10%) |
$175 (13%) |
$116 (6%) |
Other |
$106 (7%) |
$75 (5%) |
$127 (7%) |
U.S. Airport |
$25 (2%) |
$23 (2%) |
$30 (2%) |
|
Trip Expenses Payment Method |
|||
Credit Cards |
46% |
41% |
62% |
Cash |
41% |
43% |
30% |
Travelers' Checks |
11% |
14% |
6% |
Debit Cards |
2% |
2% |
2% |
|
Sex & Age of Traveler |
|||
Male Adults |
65% |
60% |
83% |
Female Adults |
35% |
40% |
17% |
Average Age of Male (Years) |
41.9 |
41.6 |
41.8 |
Average Age of Female (Years) |
37.5 |
36.5 |
36.6 |
|
Occupation |
|||
Manager / Executive |
32% |
26% |
55% |
Professional / Technical |
32% |
32% |
33% |
Clerical / Sales |
10% |
13% |
4% |
Student |
6% |
7% |
2% |
Homemaker / Housewife |
6% |
7% |
1% |
Retired |
6% |
6% |
1% |
Craftsman / Factory Worker |
3% |
4% |
2% |
Government / Military |
3% |
3% |
2% |
|
Annual Household Income |
|||
Average Household Income |
$79,900 |
$74,600 |
$99,000 |
Median Household Income |
$65,200 |
$60,200 |
$87,100 |
|
Notes: |
|
|
All numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand. Country estimates are only listed if they generated at least 150,000 overseas visitors. |
|
|
All percentages listed in this profile can be converted into estimated numbers by multiplying the percentage by 24,466,000 (total overseas travelers to the U.S.); 15,414,000 (total leisure travelers); or 7,071,000 (total business travelers). |
|
|
Business travelers are defined as the respondents who stated their purpose of trip was business/professional. Leisure travelers are defined as the respondents who stated their purpose of trip was leisure/recreation/holidays/sightseeing. Multiple purposes of trip are allowed. |
|
|
* |
Multiple response. |
|
** |
Not displayed due to low respondent base for this survey year |
|
n/a |
Information not available. |
|
Sources: |
|
|
U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Tourism Industries |
|
|
Publication Date: |
May 2000 |